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The Star Chamber

Play trailer Poster for The Star Chamber R Released Aug 5, 1983 1h 49m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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77% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 42% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Judge Steven Hardin (Michael Douglas) is discouraged by the failures of the legal system after seeing hardened criminals go free on technicalities. Acknowledging Hardin's perspective, his peer, Benjamin Caulfield (Hal Holbrook), introduces him to the Star Chamber, a secret organization that condones vigilante action in cases where justice has not been served. However, when the cabal sentences two criminals to death, and Hardin finds them falsely accused, he clashes with the powerful group.
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The Star Chamber

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times The Star Chamber works brilliantly until it locks into a plot. Then it stops dancing and starts marching. Rated: 2/4 Oct 23, 2004 Full Review Caffeinated Clint Moviehole A tour-de-force thriller from Hyams and Douglas... its final moments are as gripping as Superglue! Rated: 3/5 Jul 23, 2008 Full Review David Kaplan Kaplan vs. Kaplan Rated: 4/5 Mar 1, 2008 Full Review Rob Gonsalves Rob's Movie Vault Outstanding performances across the board. Rated: B+ Apr 9, 2007 Full Review Steve Crum Dispatch-Tribune Newspapers Conspiracy abounds in this early Michael Douglas far fetcher. Rated: 3/5 Feb 20, 2007 Full Review Rob Thomas Capital Times (Madison, WI) A couple of great chases, but it doesn't quite live up to its intriguing premise. Rated: 3/5 Mar 9, 2006 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (78) audience reviews
Bill B Rather extreme and unbelievable story about legal technicalities. Holbrook plays his character far too smug, but Douglas is OK. All the real action is at the end and makes the movie worth the $5. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 03/24/24 Full Review Jack O I'm not a fan of Peter Hyams as a director because his directing is pretty poor. I actually found this movie forgettable even though this is a declining film I found myself enjoying the chase scenes and that is the highlight of the entire movie itself. Michael Douglas plays a judge who decides who's guilty or not guilty and decides that all cases of people who commited crimes will be dismissed or not. The only case in this is the child who got murdered and Dr. Lewin is the father of the child wants him to put two men Monk and Cooms guilty. I never really got into this and I think it's kinda dry and I'm sure if people heard of it or not, I guess the director of this is really bland. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 06/22/23 Full Review stoner j Excellent early Douglas courtroom thriller (mostly) with an amazingly awesome idea of a secret society of judges dishing out the justice they couldn't do in the courtroom! Great film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Shioka O I thought this is another watchable court/crime film, however, the plot sidetracked in last 15 min and broke up. I was confused and almost laughed. Bad but still enjoyable. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/25/22 Full Review Audience Member A greatly conceived premise that will make many a viewer wish for certain things. The movie works well,and hooks you nicely until its conclusion. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Don't know who could think this was difficult to follow. Easy going bubblegum movie from the early 80s and worth a watch. I wonder how many times I am going to hear the gear change from bullet copied in movies! This is copied here in the car park scene for the red firebird! Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Star Chamber

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Judge Steven Hardin (Michael Douglas) is discouraged by the failures of the legal system after seeing hardened criminals go free on technicalities. Acknowledging Hardin's perspective, his peer, Benjamin Caulfield (Hal Holbrook), introduces him to the Star Chamber, a secret organization that condones vigilante action in cases where justice has not been served. However, when the cabal sentences two criminals to death, and Hardin finds them falsely accused, he clashes with the powerful group.
Director
Peter Hyams
Producer
Frank Yablans
Screenwriter
Roderick Taylor, Peter Hyams
Distributor
20th Century Fox
Production Co
Twentieth Century Fox
Rating
R
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 5, 1983, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Oct 20, 2015
Runtime
1h 49m
Sound Mix
Surround
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